National Hunt Returns

 

With Chepstow's two day meeting having just gone, this is now the time that the National Hunt racing starts to take centre stage. The meeting started with a winner for Paul Nicholls with Thyme White winning easily, he was the first of 8 winners across the two days for the former Champion trainer. The main event on Chepstow's race card was the Persian War Novices hurdle, once again going the way of team Ditcheat with McFabulous winning impressively and also getting my 10 to follow off to a flying start. He travelled and jumped well throughout the race beating Courtandbould buy 3 lengths but never had to be asked for his effort by Cobden, bookies have already cut him in price from 33/1 to 14s for the Stayers hurdle at Cheltenham come March, I'd like to see him out of novice company first before getting ahead of myself but he does look like he could be a potential star over the staying distances. The best finish at Chepstow on the Friday came in the veterans chase, with the winner once again being provided by Paul Nicholls in the shape of Present Man, this time with Bryony Frost in the saddle, he eventually got the verdict of a 3 way photo beating Crosspark by a nose with Dancing Shadow just behind, I love these veteran chases, its good to see the older horses still loving life and giving their all jumping fences.

As said earlier the Saturday was also a great day for Nicholls with another 4 winners, first of which was Hell Red who won the juvenile hurdle impressively by 12 lengths with quotes of 20/1 no being given for him to win the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham. Nicholls and Cobden then added another with Secret Investor taking the Native River Chase, he got the good ground that he likes and was always gonna be difficult to peg back from the front, he also came into the race with a nice 2nd last time out at Newbury behind the name sake of this race Native River. The next was the race i was looking forward to the most, the novice chase, with Fiddlerontheroof, Fusil Raffles, Grand Sancy and Longhouse Sale all entered it had the potential to be a right cracker, unfortunately the first two ended up being non runners due to the ground being too quick. Longhouse Sale was sent off the odds on favourite for the Skeltons but could only finish 3rd, no match for the Nicholls trained Grand Sancy who came into this race with a nice enough 4th in a Grade 1 behind Itchy Feet at Sandow, he jumped really well and will be one to keep an eye on in some of the good handicaps I think. The main event on the Saturday was the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle which saw Flash The Steel looking for back to back wins, but all he could manage was 2nd behind Tea Clipper who was sent off favourite and is not 4/5 over hurdles worth keeping an eye on him when he runs next if there is good in the going description. One I wouldn't lose faith with is Sir Psycho travelled well and took up the lead with a couple to jump before fading, back over 2m I can see him picking up a few races.

At Newton Abbot on the Sunday there was two intriguing chases, the first one was the intermediate chase which saw the first outing of the unbeaten when not falling Master Tommytucker, he still did not look 100% convincing, clattering through the 10th fence and ultimately when Cobden asked him for his effort 2 from home he just kept on the same pace, eventually being beaten just under 3 lengths by Al Dancer, he tracked the leader throughout the race and in the end had more gears when asked to go win the race, I could see him mixing it in some nice handicap chases this season, as I'm not sure he has what is needed to win the big graded chases, happy to be proven wrong though. The second was a novice chase which unfortunately saw the exciting Highway One O Two a non runner, this left Eldorado Allen to make an impressive start over fences and gave Robbie Power his first win in England since moving over her permanently. he jumped well tracking Stormy Ireland before going clear before the last, these are both two nice horses who I would not be surprised to see winning a few races this season.

A quick mention over in Ireland, which saw Queens Brook the Champion Bumper 3rd make a winning start over hurdles, she made all before being strongly challenged in the home straight but kept on gamely to win by a neck, wasn't the best performance, but she still maintains her potential and a win is a win. There was also a nice chase debut for Champion Hurdle 3rd Darver Star, he jumped well throughout although out to his left at times but won eased down by 12 lengths, looking forward to seeing him out over fences again soon.

Thanks for reading, looking at the cards for the coming week and there's a nice entry for Third Time Lucki at Uttoxeter where he could make his hurdles debut and hopefully be another winner for the 10 to follow.